Cigarettes



y 1, 1953 L. G. PELLETIER 2,841,153

CIGARETTES Filed June 16, 1955 United States PatentO CIGARETTES Louis G. Pelletier, New York, N. Y.

Application June 16, 1955, Serial No. 516,009

2 Claims. (Cl. 131-9) This invention relates generally to the smoking art, and more particularly to improved cigarette structure having means incorporated therein for the dilution and mixing of air with the smoke, as the same are drawn into the mouth by the user. The invention lies in the particular details of construction. I

Where the venting means is formed integrally with the tip of the cigarette which is insertible into the mouth of the user, it is desirable that the cost of manufacturing the venting means be held to a minimum so that the cost of the cigarette per se will not be prohibitively high. It is also desirable that the venting means be relatively mechanically strong, so as ,to maintain its shape during smoking, and which will not be crushed between the fingers of the user when held by the same. Owing to the preferences of smokers, it is also desirable that the degree of air mixed with the smoke be individually adjustable to suit the particular user, and such adjustable means should be simple and easily manipulated by those possessing only ordinary skill.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide vented cigarette tip construction possessed of the above-mentioned desirable characteristics in which the over-all bulk of the cigarette may be of normal proportions.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cigarette venting tip construction which may be manufactured using only paper components, whereby the cost of manufacturing the same may be maintained at a reasonably low order.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a cigarette venting construction which will not interfere with the normal draft found within the wrapper member of the cigarette, thereby assuring proper burning of the tobacco.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of venting tip construction which may be used equally well either with filter or non-filter types of cigarettes.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that a substantially uniform diameter of the cigarette is maintained, thereby facilitating the packaging of the same.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a partially gummed sleeve element used in conjunction with the embodiment.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the use of the embodiment.

The embodiment of the invention includes a paper wrapper 41 having a tobacco filler 42 therein. The sleeve member 43, best seen on Figures 2, 3 and 4, is provided with a gum layer 44, which extends partially over the inner surface thereof, adapting the same to be glued to the outer surface 46 of the wrapper 41. Extending through the body of the sleeve member 43 are a plurality of triangularly-shaped tab members 47, which are completely severed from the main body of the sleeve member 43, at portions thereof which are free of gum, and which are perforated with respect to the sleeve member at the gummed portions thereof.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, openings 50 are formed by the insertion of the finger nail of a user beneath the wider end of the tab members 47, i. e. those portions which are free of gum, and by tearing the perforated edges 49. As the cigarette paper wrapper 41 is frangible, and the gum layer 44 forms a strong bond, the tearing of the tab 47 forms a break in the wrapper, and as the tab 47 is removed, there is present a triangularly-shaped small opening through which air may enter to mix with the smoke within the body of the tobacco filler 42. It is to be observed that these openings may be slightly larger than the openings shown in the other embodiments, owing to the fact that the tobacco body, per se, forms a slight obstruction to the entrance of the air. If desired, the tab may be slightly raised above the outer surface of the sleeve 43.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in vented cigarettes, in which inexpensive durable means is provided for the introduction of a small quantity of air to be mixed with the cigarette smoke in the tobacco filler or mouth of the user, thereby diluting the strength of the smoke to the individual preference of the user. Cigarettes embodying the novel structure may be manufactured at but a slight .cost over the cost of conventional type cigarettes, and the venting structure may be incorporated into cigarettes of different lengths without modification.

'I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

I claim:

1. Improved cigarette structure comprising: a wrapper member, a tobacco filler disposed within said wrapper member and a sleeve positioned upon said wrapper member at one end thereof; said sleeve having an inner surface, a cylindrical portion of which is provided with an adhesive layer and a second adjacent surrounding surface which is free of adhesive, said sleeve member having a plurality of frangible tabs partially extending over each of said surrounding surfaces; said adhesive serving to interconnect portions of the outer surface of said wrapper member and the inner surface of said sleeve member; whereby upon the tearing of said tabs in a direction outwardly of said sleeve member, smallopenings are formed in said wrapper member for the admission of air.

2. Improved cigarette structure comprising: a wrapper member, a tobacco filler disposed within said wrapper member and a sleeve positioned upon said wrapper member at one end thereof; said sleeve having an inner surface, a cylindrical portion of which is provided with an adhesive layer and a second adjacent cylindrical portion which is free of adhesive, said sleeve member having a tab partially extending over one of said cylindrical portions; said adhesive serving to interconnect-portions of the outer surface of said wrapper member and the inner surface of said sleeve member; whereby upon the tearing of said tab in a direction outwardly of said sleeve member, small openings are formed in said wrapper member for the admission of air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,639 I-Ieinig May 10, 1898 1,718,122 DeShon June 18, 1929 10 2,693,193 Pelletier Nov. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 706,624 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1954 

